I'm new to the camping threads be gentle with me!

[quint]

DH and I are lookng to go camping for the first time with 2 children this summer (DD1 will be 4 1/2, DD2 just under 2 years).

Does anyone have any campsite recommendations in Cornwall - nearish a beach with no rowdy clubs.

Also the tent I want (though DH says will be a nightmare to put up) is the Outwell Hartford XXL www.outwell.com/ am also loving the kids room - DH says I am now going over the top! Am I?

My god I can get a carpet and wardrobe too!!!!!!!!!

[FeelingOld]

Oh quint you will love camping, its fab (well it is when it isn't raining ), we have the outwell indiana 8 and it takes dh and I about 1.5 hours to get it pitched and pegged out and it stood up to lots of wind and rain last summer so would deffo recommend an outwell.

Haven't camped in cornwall yet so can't help you, but I am sure someone else will be along soon with some recommendations.

[quint]

Thanks feelingold anyone else out there who can give any advice?

[PandaG]

we have the hartford xxl - and love it. word of caution though, it is too big to fit onto a lot of standard size pitches, we often end up paying for an extra pitch when we camp to fit it on. It takes us (Dh and I, with some help from 8yo) 3/4 hour ish now, but was nearer 1.5 hours when we first started. nkot got the kids room, really don't think you need it.

[AllyH]

We camped in Cornwall last year at Tregarton Park near Gorran Haven, great site (we're going again this year) but for all the reviews go to UKcampsite.co.uk once you've registered on there you'll be hooked, but it has all the reviews of different campsites all around the country (and anyone can add a review so you get an honest opinion).

Enjoy!! PS. I think tunnel tents are easier to put up than dome tents and Outwell & Vango definitely good makes. Best to go and look at some to see what you think you like.

[dustystar]

Welcome to the camping topic

Now we have you we will never let you go mwah ha ha

We have an Outwell Vermont L which is a tunnel tent and we love it We have a wardrobe and carpet too!

We used to stay at this lovely site in Cornwall but haven't been there for the last 3 years and it has been taken over by another company so may have changed. i'll find a link for it though.

[dustystar]

look here

If you haven't done so already I recommend that you go to a show or a shop that has a display. You get a much better idea of what you want.

Before we bought our first tent we were convinced we wanted a dome tent and hadn't even considered a tunnel but a couple of visits to our local shop showed us that a tunnel was a much better option for us.

[quint]

Thanks everyone - I have to say I have been lurking looking at the tent porn for a while, but have been convinced to give it a go by DH - my only condition that the tent must be HUGE!!!!!!!! Room each plus storage hence the HArtford XXL - will definitely find a show to go and have a look at.

PandaG - for a horrible minute I thought you meant the tent took 3 or 4 hours to put up!! And I know DD doesn;t need the kids tent (she doesn't actually need half the stuff she has) it just looks so damn cute!

[Lucycat]

I agree with dusty that a Vermont or a Montana will be easier to put up than the Hartford. They also take up less room on the pitch. The Montana has a large room divided by a curtain (it may even zip up now) so that your dds can be near you but still separate iyswim.
My dds were a little younger than yours when we first started to go and at first we tried to put them at the other end of a tunnel tent in their own room - believe you me crawling across a dark tent to a crying child at 3am is no fun, whilst trying not to wake the rest of the campsite up! While they are little it's lovely peeping through the curtain in the morning watching them sleep.

[Lucycat]

btw a room for each of what? your dds? I bet they'll want to sleep in the same room!

[quint]

You're probably right Lucycat, they share a room at home so why not whilst away.

I think I'm going to have to find somewhere that has a load for me to look at - anyone know anywhere near to South East London with lots of big tents on show?!

[dustystar]

I don't but if you ask on ukcampsite.co.uk someone will know on there.